Inhibitory effect of essential oils against Trichosporon ovoides causing Piedra Hair Infection

Abstract

Piedra, is an asymptomatic fungal infection of the hair shaft, resulting in the formation of nodules of different hardness on the infected hair. The infection also known as Trichomycosis nodularis is a superficial fungal infection arising from the pathogen being restricted to the stratum corneum with little or no tissue reaction. The nodules are a concretion of hyphae and fruiting bodies of the fungus. Two varieties of Piedra may be seen, Black Piedra and White Piedra. The fungus Trichosporon ovoides is involved in the occurrence of both types of Piedras. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of selected essential oils for the control of growth of the fungus and to determine whether the antifungal effect was due to the major compounds of the oils. Two screening methods viz. Agar well diffusion assay and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration were adopted for the study. MIC and MFC were determined by tube dilution method. Essential oils from Eucalyptus, Ocimum basilicum, Mentha piperita, Cymbopogon flexuosus, Cymbopogon winterians, Trachyspermum ammi, Zingiber officinalis, Citrus limon, Cinnamomon zeylanicum, Salvia sclarea, Citrus aurantifolia, Melaleuca alternifolia, Citrus aurantium, Citrus bergamia, Pogostemon pathchouli, Cedrus atlantica, Jasminum officinale, Juniperus communis, Abelmoschus moschatus, Cyperus scariosus, Palargonium graveolens, Boswellia carterii, Rosa damascene, Veteveria zizanoides and Commiphora myrrha were evaluated. The essential oils of Cymbopogon winterians, Mentha piperita, Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Melaleuca alternifolia and Eucalyptus globulus were proved to be most effective against the fungus Trichosporon ovoides.

INTRODUCTION

Piedra, is an asymptomatic fungal infection of the hair shaft, resulting in the formation of nodules of different hardness on the infected hair. The conditions caused are considered as superficial mycoses because the hosts do not produce any immune-reactive response (3, 4). Two varieties of Piedra may be seen, one called Black Piedra and the other White Piedra. Black Piedra is typically caused by the fungi Piedrae hortae and Trichosporon ovoides. It is mostly found in tropical countries like South America and South East Asia (18). On the other hand, White Piedra, caused by other Trichosporon species, occurs in semitropical and temperate countries. Trichosporon genus is subdivided into six distinct human pathogenic species of which Trichosporon ovoides, Trichosporon inkin, Trichosporon mucoides and Trichosporon asahii are linked to White Piedra (2). Black Piedra is characterized by the presence of firm black, hard, gritty nodules which are actually a mass of fungus cells on the hair shaft. They cause a disintegration and breakage in the hair fibre. These stone hard black nodules are usually localized to the scalp, but may also be seen on hairs of the beard, moustache and pubic hair with the fungal activity limited to the cuticle (7). White Piedra is characterized by white to light brown nodules that may surround the entire hair shaft. Nodules are soft and the fungal mass can easily be detached from the hair. Encapsulated arthroconidia or blastoconidia with polygonal appearance are observed under direct microscopic examination (3, 4, 10, 14, 17, 27). The fungus Trichosporon ovoides which is involved in causing both types of Piedras is found in soil, lake water and plants and can occasionally be seen as normal flora of the human skin and mouth. Trichosporon, in particular has also been considered urophilic due to its ability to occupy strongly acidic localisations when colonizing pubic hair and its capacity to utilize urea and uric acid. The fact that they select hair as substratum may be due to their keratinophillic affinity (3, 4).

Piedra are defined as superficial mycosis because they neither invade living tissue nor provoke an immune response by the host (3, 4). Infection does not seem related to personal hygiene or exposure to an infected person but it is suggested that its spread can be prevented by not sharing brushes, combs and other hair accessories (9).

The classical and most effective therapy for White and Black Piedra has been and still is the cutting and shaving of the hairs, a treatment recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology (6). Topical antifungals are also recommended and the application of Clotrimazole cream alone (26) or after shampooing with Ketoconazole proved to be good therapeutic treatment for White Piedra (13).

As a result of immense use of these antifungal drugs used for the treatment of infectious disease, the resistance of the organisms increased (1). This situation forced researchers to search for new antimicrobial substance from various sources including medicinal plants (1). Essential oils have been traditionally used for treatment of infections and diseases all over the world for centuries (22). In recent years there has been extensive research to explore and determine the antimicrobial activity of essential oils.

In the present study, screening of some essential oils was undertaken to find out if these can be used as effective fungicides to control skin and hair infections and whether they can be used as a substitute for drugs of chemical origin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Procurement and Maintenance of Cultures: The culture of the fungal species Trichosporon ovoides (NCYC No.2796) was procured from National Collection of Yeasts Culture, Norwich, UK for the study and was maintained on selective media i.e. Yeast Malt Agar (Supplied from Central drug house Pvt. LTD. New. Delhi). At optimum temperature of 25^°C the fungus shows full mycelial growth and sporulation after 48 hrs. of incubation in petriplates of 15mm diameter.

Collection of Plant material: 25 aromatic plants belonging to 15 families were collected from different regions of Dehradun District. The plant specimens were submitted to the Division of Botany, FRI, Dehradun for identification. The seeds, roots and leaves of plants were dried and ground to semi-powered state.

Extraction procedure: The seeds, roots and leaves for oil were dried and ground to semi-powdered state. The air dried aerial parts (250 gm) were hydro distilled in a Clevenger apparatus for 5 hours in accordance with the British pharmacopoeia. The aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane. The organic phase was dried with sodium sulphate, filtered and the solvent evaporated until dryness by air-drying. The fractions obtained were combined into calibrated flasks and evaporated to dryness. The oils were solubilized in 20 % DMSO (dimethyl suphoxide) when used for antimycotic activity. The oils were stored in sealed glass bottles in a refrigerator at 4^°C until required.

Antifungal Assays

Agar Well diffusion Assay: Preliminary analysis of antifungal activity was conducted using Agar well diffusion assay as described by Garcia et al. 2002 (8). First of all, fungal inoculum was prepared in Tween 80 saline solution and incubated for 1 hour. Then 1 ml of this solution was homogeneously inoculated into Petriplates containing Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) (Supplied from Himedia Laboratories Private. Ltd Mumbai) medium and kept for solidification. After solidification, wells of 6mm diameter were punctured in the culture medium using sterile cork borer. A fixed volume (100 µl/ml) in 20% DMSO of respective essential oil was loaded in the wells using sterilized micropipettes. DMSO was used as a negative control and Nystatin (100mg/disc) and Imidazole (50mg/disc) were used as positive control. Plates were incubated for 2–3 days at 25^°C. Zone of Inhibition in mm was determined after 48 hrs for different oils.

Minimum Inhibitory Concentration

Tube Dilution Asssay: The MIC and MFC values of essential oils were determined using two fold broth micro-dilution to prepare oil concentration of 200, 100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.2, 3.1, 1.55 and 0.75 µl/ml. 20 % DMSO was used as a solvent for essential oil. 1 ml of each oil was added to test tubes containing 1 ml of sterile SD broth. The tubes were then incubated with 1 ml of the fungal suspension and incubated at 25^°C for 2 days. Nystatin B and Imidazole were used as positive controls for the fungus. The MIC values were determined macroscopically after 48 hrs of incubation in comparison with the growth and sterility controls (5). SDA plates were divided into eight different sections and labeled with the different concentrations on the plates. The plates were incubated for 48 hrs at 25^°C after which the MFC were recorded. Three replicates were used for each essential oil concentration and controls against the fungus (20).

Gas Chromatography: The GC analysis of five most effective essential oils was carried out using a GC apparatus (Agilent Technologies, 6890 N). The analysis was performed with a DB -5 column (0.32mm× 30m). Nitrogen gas was used as carrier gas with a flow rate of 1ml/min. The column was raised from 60^°C to 220 ^°C at a rate of 3 ^°C /min. The identification of oil components was based on their retention time with available literature values.

RESULTS

The result in Fig. 1 shows the antifungal properties of twenty five essential oils against Trichosporon ovoides through Agar Well Diffusion Assay. The highest inhibitory effect was recorded with oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (50mm, inhibition zone) followed by Cymbopogon winterians (45mm), Melaleuca alternifolia (45mm), Citrus bergamia (40mm), Eucalyptus globulus (36mm), Mentha piperita (35mm), Abelmoschus moschatus (32mm), Ocimum basilicum (30mm), Citrus aurantium (30 mm), Jasminum officinale (30mm), Citrus limon (28mm), Citrus aurantifolia (23mm), Boswellia carterii (20mm), Palargonium graveolens (20mm), Cymbopogon flexuosus (15mm), Salvia sclarea (13mm), Cedrus atlantica (11mm). Pogostemon patchouli, Juniperus communis, Commiphora myrrha, Cyperus scariosus, Rosa damascene, Veteveria zizanioides, Zingiber officinalis and Trachyspermum ammi oils showed no inhibition. The growth of T. ovoides was thus affected by seventeen out of twenty five essential oils. On the other hand, the remaining eight oils were unable to cause any inhibitory effect. Out of Seventeen oils which affected the growth of T. ovoides, C. zeylanicum, C. winterians, M. alternifolia, C. bergamia, E. globulus and M. piperita exerted higher inhibitory effects in comparison to C. flexuosus, S. sclarea and C. atlantica which showed lower anti-yeast activity against T. ovoides. Antifungal synthetic drugs Nystatin B and Imidazole showed inhibition zones of 30 mm and 25 mm respectively. Most of the essential oils used in the study showed better zones of inhibitions compared to that produced by the antifungal synthetic drugs. The inhibitory effect of 25 essential oils against T. ovoides was studied. The effect of different concentrations of 25 essential oils belonging to different families was tested against the yeast species. All the concentrations of the essential oils inhibited the yeast species with varying degree of sensitivity. The MIC and MFC of the screened plants against T. ovoides is shown in Table 1. Essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus showed the best activity against the yeast T. ovoides with MIC value of 0.75 µl /ml and MFC value of 1.55 µl /ml followed by the essential oil of Cinnamomum zeylanicum exhibiting MIC value of 1.55µl /ml and MFC value of 3.1.µl /ml. C. limon, C. winterians, S. sclarea, P. graveolens, J. officinaleshowed similar MIC value of 3.1 µl /ml with MFC value of 6.2. µl /ml. C. aurantifolia showed MIC value of 6.2µl /ml with MFC value of 12.5µl /ml. M. piperita, C. bergamia, J. communis inhibited the growth of the yeast at a concentration of 12.5 µl /ml with MFC at 25 µl /ml followed by O. basilicum, C. flexuosus, M. alternifolia, C. aurantium, P. patchouli, A. moschatus, and B. carterii at an MIC value of 25 µl /ml and MFC value of 50 µl /ml. MIC value detected in the case of T. ammi & C. myrrha was 50 µl /ml and MFC value was 100 µl /ml. MIC determined in case of oil of Z. officinalis and C. scariosus was 100 µl /ml with MFC value of 200 µl /ml. C. atlantica and R. damascene showed MIC at 200 µl /ml with MFC value of 300µl /ml. Antifungal drug Nystatin B inhibited the visible growth at a concentration of 3.1 mg/ml and exhibited MFC of 6.2 mg/ml whereas Imidazole exhibited MIC at 6.2 mg/ml and MFC of 12.5 mg/ml. (Fig. 4). Fig. 1 shows inhibition zones produced by different oils against T. ovoides through Agar well diffusion assay and MIC, MFC of different essential oils are shown in Table 1 with Fig. 2 and Fig 3.

Figure 1.

Effect of essential oils against T. ovoides by Agar Well Diffusion Assay

Table 1.

MIC and MFC of Essential Oils against T. ovoides

Botanicanl Names	Local names	Family	Parts used	MIC (in μl/ml)	MFC (in μl/ml)
Juniperus communis	Juniper	Cupressaceae	Berries and Twig	12.5	25
Commiphora myrrha	Myrrh	Burseraceae	Gum, Resin, sap	50	100
Zingiber officinalis	Ginger	Zingiberaceae	Root & Rhizome	3.1	6.2
Boswellia carterii	Frankincense	Burseraceae	Resin	25	50
Eucalyptus globulus	Eucalyptus	Myrtaceae	Leaves, Fruit, sap	0.75	1.55
Citrus aurantifolia	Lime	Rutaceae	Leaves, Fruit & peel	6.2	12.5
Citrus aurantium	Orange	Rutaceae	Fruit & Peel	25	50
Cinnamomum zeylanicum	Cinnamon	Lauraceae	Bark, leaves	1.55	3.1
Cedrus atlantica	Cedarwood	Pinaceae	Twig &Leaf	200	400
Citrus limon	Lemon	Rutaceae	Fruit, Peel, Seeds	3.1	6.2
Melaleuca alternifolia	Teatree	Myrtaceae	Leaves	25	50
Cyperus scariosus	Nagarmotha	Cyperaceae	Roots	100	200
Jasminum officinale	Jasmine	Oleaceae	Flower	3.1	6.2
Pogostemon patchouli	Patchouli	Labiatae	Leaves	25	50
Citrus bergamia	Bergamot	Rutaceae	Flower and Fruit	12.5	25
Ocimum basilicum	Basil	Lamiaceae	Leaves and stem	25	50
Palargonium graveolens	Geranium	Geraniaceae	Leaves and flowers	3.1	6.2
Salvia sclarea	Clarysage	Labiatae	leaves	3.1	6.2
Mentha piperita	Peppermint	Labiatae	leaves	12.5	25
Abelmoschus moschatus	Musk	Malvaceae	seeds	25	50
Cymbopogon winterians	Citronella	Poaceae	Leaves, Grass	3.1	6.2
Trachyspermum ammi	Ajowain	Apiaceae	seeds	50	100
Cymbopogon flexuosus	Lemongrass	Poaceae	Leaves and stem	25	50
Vetiveria zizanoides	Khas	Poaceae	root	100	200
Rosa damascene	Rose	Rosaceae	Flower and leaves	200	300
Imidazole (50μg/disc)	–	–	–	12.5	25
Nystatin B (100μg/disc)	–	–	–	6.2	12.5

Figure 4.

MIC & MFC of Antifungal drugs against T. ovoides. a) MIC & MFC of Nystatin B against T. ovoides. b) MIC & MFC of Imidazole against T. ovoides

Figure 2.

Agar well diffusion assay showing inhibition zones. a) Ocimum basilicum against T. ovoides. b) Cinnamomum zeylanicum against T. ovoides. c) Eucalyptus globulus against T. ovoides

Figure 3.

MIC & MFC OF DIFFERENT OILS AGAINST T. ovoides. a) MIC & MFC of O. basilicum against T. ovoides. b) MIC & MFC of T. ammi against T. ovoides. c) MIC & MFC of C. limon against T. ovoides.

GC analysis: The identification of oil constituents was carried out by GC analysis of oil samples. Five oils viz. Cinnamon, Citronella, Peppermint, Eucalyptus and Tea tree were analysed and the constituents present in each oil was identified. All the five oils were highly effective against Trichosporon ovoides showing large inhibition zones.

The major constituent of Cinnamon oil was identified as Eugenol (60.68%), that of Citronella as Geraniol (39.60%), Tea tree as Terpinen-4-ol (50.94%), Peppermint as Isomenthol (66.94%) and Eucalyptus as 1,8 cineole (20.75%). Other constituents of the essential oils are given in Table 2.

Table 2.

GC Analysis of essential oils constituents. List of Constituents

S. No	Essential Oils	Oils Constituents (%)
1	Citronella	Geraniol (39.60%), Citronellal (18.21%), Citronellol (10.28%), E-citral (5.94%), Geranyl acetate (5.78%), z-citral (3.50%), Citronellyl acetate (2.07) & Linalool (1.71%)
2	Tea Tree	Terpinen-4-ol (50.94%), 1,8-cineole (10.11%) & a-pinene (2.21%)
3	Peppermint	Iso-menthol (66.94%), iso-menthyl acetate (3.12%) & p-menthone (2.19%)
4	Cinnamon	Eugenol (60.68%) & a-phellandrene (27.66%)
5	Eucalyptus	1,8-cineole (20.75%), a-pinene (18.50%), a-phellandrene (14.29%) & a-terpineol acetate (2.32%)

DISCUSSION

To our knowledge this study appears to be the first that actually looked at the antifungal effect of essential oils against Piedra hair infection. The inhibitory effects of twenty five essential oils against the Trichosporon ovoides were studied.

The traditional use of plants as medicines provide the basis for indicating which essential oils and plant oils may be useful for specific medical conditions. Historically, many plant oils and extracts, such as tea tree, myrrh and clove, have been used as topical antiseptics, or have been reported to have antimicrobial properties (15). There are earlier reports determining the fungitoxic spectrum of these essential oils against other pathogenic fungi. The essential oils have been evaluated for antifungal activities from Palmarosa, Citronella and Lemon grass against four human pathogenic fungi, namely Microsporum gypseum, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Sporothrix schenckii (24). Various publications have documented the antimicrobial activity of essential oils and plant extracts including rosemary, peppermint, bay, basil, tea tree, celery seed and fennel. All the oils tested exhibited different degrees of antifungal activity against Aspergillus fumigatus & Aspergillus niger (12, 16, 19, 23).The antifungal activity of essential oils obtained from Cinnamon, Oregano, Mexican Oregano, Thyme, and Ginger essential oils showed inhibition against Fluconazole resistant and Fluconazole susceptible candida species (21). Bergamot oil was found to be active against clinical isolates of some dermatophytes namely as Trichophyton spp., Epidermophyton spp., and Microsporum spp (25). Melaleuca alternifolia was found to be active against Cladosporium, Alternaria, Aspergillus, Fusarium (11). It is important to investigate scientifically those plants which have been used in traditional medicines as potential sources of novel antimicrobial compounds. Data from our study has confirmed the antimicrobial potential of plant products, particularly the anti-yeast effect of 25 essential oils noted by MIC values and total inhibition of the growth of the assayed dematiaceous yeast strains. Moreover, our findings show that these essential oils could arise as promising alternative antimicrobial compounds to be inserted in pharmaceutical formulations used to treat mycoses of different clinical severities caused by dematiaceous yeasts.